8/8/2016
Cottage Grove Speedway
Cronk, Desbiens, Williamson, Braaten, And Corley Fan Appreciation Night Winners At Cottage Grove
Cronk, Desbiens, Williamson, Braaten, And Corley Fan Appreciation Night Winners At Cottage Grove
By Ben Deatherage
(Photo Courtesy of Dirt Oval TV)
Cottage Grove, Oregon- Despite power problems in the southern Willamette Valley for much of the day, due to a local aviation accident, it would be fully restored just in time so that all of the racing would be completed at Cottage Grove Speedway on Saturday, August 6th. The night would be the annual Fan Appreciation Night where during intermission all of the race cars in the pits were brought out onto the front stretch for fans to interact with all the drivers. Classes in action were the Late Models, Clark Printing Extreme Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, IMCA Sport Mods, and the Quality RV Repair Hornets.
Several of the top Late Model chauffeurs in the Pacific Northwest would make their way to “The Grove”. The event was sanctioned by the I-5 Super Late Model Series and a total of twenty-three entries would be in attendance. Coos Bay’s Mike George would show the way early in the feature.
Shortly after a lap three restart, George would get passed for the top spot. It would be Brian Cronk making the move on lap five to get in front and lead the pack. Cronk, out of Portland, would pull away and create a very large gap once the final caution occurred. He would pace the field the rest of the way despite feeling a little bit of pressure late. It would be Cronk’s first win at CGS this year and his second triumph with the I-5 Late Models.
Joey Tanner, also out of Portland and driving the Dave Walters machine, would finish a close second followed by Kye Frick, from Sweet Home, in third. Bend’s Darren Coffell would place fourth while Justin Duty, now living in Mulino, was fifth.
In the Clark Printing Extreme Sprints, it would be a caution free main event. Cooper Desbiens seized the initiative right off of the bat and didn’t look back. The Sutherlin teenager would cruise right along and did not feel any pressure whatsoever. That was until the last few laps when he was beginning to get caught. Despite a late race effort by the challengers, Cooper Desbiens would maintain his lead to win his first race of the season in the Clark Printing Extreme Sprints.
Dusty Redmond, of Roseburg, was the respectable runner-up while Cottage Grove’s Kinzer Cox placed an impressive third. Ricky Ashley, out of Thurston, got fourth with Harrisburg teenager Tyler Thompson in fifth.
The IMCA Modified finale would be an incredible race. Grey Ferrando would have the race of his life. Ferrando got out in front on the opening start and was the car to beat for much of the feature. The Stayton native seemed to thwart the opposition until Jesse Williamson would bring an incredible amount of pressure.
Coming to the white flag Williamson, from Eugene, would edge out Ferrando but Ferrando took the spot back out of turn two. When the two cars exited the fourth and final turn it would be Williamson collecting the win. Jesse Williamson now has three wins recorded at CGS in 2016.
Grey Ferrando would get sideways on the front stretch and got together with Mark Wauge. Wauge, of Medford, would edge out Ferrando for second. Corbett’s Collen Winebarger was fourth followed by Springfield’s Steven Sturdevant.
In the IMCA Sport Mods Willy McFall of Shady Cove would show the way. McFall paced the field until lap four when Medford’s Mike Medel made it around him. However, Medel’s tenure as the trailblazer would be short lived when Jorddon Braaten passed him on lap five Braaten, of Central Point, remained in the lead the rest of the distance to score his sixth victory of the year.
Eugene’s Andrew Mathers was second while behind him in third was Mike Medel. Shawn Hand, from Cottage Grove, crossed the wire in fourth and Winston’s Buddy McHargue was an impressive fifth.
Last but not least were the Quality RV Repair Hornets. Bernie Bryant was quite fast in the main event early. Bryant, who is from Sutherlin, stayed in the coveted top spot until lap seven. Westfir’s Josh Corley was the one to make it around Bryant. Corley set a torrid pace and was in front the balance of the distance to make his fifth trip to the winner’s circle.
Cottage Grove native Chris Pierce was second, in the Marcel Forte owned entry, and Springfield’s K.C. Scott managed to grab third. Joe Maricle, of Veneta, placed fourth and completing the top five, in fifth, was Roseburg’s Rich Dickenson.
Cottage Grove Speedway next hosts Kage Karts on Friday, August 12th followed by the annual Historical Night, which will induct the Class of 2016 into the Wall of Fame, on Saturday the 13th. Classes competing on Saturday night includes 360 Sprints, IMCA Modifieds, Late Models, IMCA Sport Mods, and the Quality RV Repair Hornets. For more information, log on to www.cottagegrovespeedway.com.
Submitted By: Ben Deatherage